Unit Lesson Plan – Matter & Energy in Everyday Life
Teacher:
Grade:
Subject:
15 days
Time Frame:
7
School:
PSI Middle School Science
NGSS DCI:
LS1.C: Organization for Matter and
Energy Flow in Organisms
Plant, algae (including phytoplankton), and many microorganisms use
energy from light to make sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and water through the process of photosynthesis, which
also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used immediately or stored
for growth or later use. (MS-LS1-6)
Within individual organisms, food moves through a series of chemical
reactions in which it is broken down and rearranged to form new
molecules, to support growth or to release energy. (MS-LS1-7)
PS3.D: Energy in Chemical
Processes and Everyday Life
The chemical reactions by which plants produce complex food
molecules (sugars) requires energy input (i.e., from sunlight) to occur.
In this reaction carbon dioxide and water combine to form carbon-based
organic molecules and release oxygen. (secondary to MS-LS1-6)
Cellular respiration in plants and animals involve chemical reactions
with oxygen that release stored energy. In these processes, complex
molecules containing carbon react with oxygen to produce carbon
dioxide and other materials. (MS-LS1-7)
http://www.nextgenscience.org/msls1-molecules-organisms-structuresprocesses
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS1-6.
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS1-7.
Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of
photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out
of organisms.
Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical
reactions to forming new molecules that support growth and/or release
energy as this matter moves through an organism.
Essential Questions
(What questions will the student be able to answer as a result of the instruction?)
1. What is photosynthesis?
2. Why is photosynthesis important to all living things?
3. Where is the energy needed to perform photosynthesis created?
4. In what organisms does photosynthesis occur? In what cell structures does photosynthesis occur?
5. What is cellular respiration?
6. What materials are needed to perform photosynthesis? Cellular Respiration?
7. What materials are produced by photosynthesis? Cellular Respiration?
8. In what organisms does respiration occur? In what cell structures does respiration occur?
9. What is the relationship between Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration?
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7th Grade PSI
Matter and Energy in Everyday Life
Knowledge & Skills
(What skills are needed to achieve the desired results?)
By the end of this unit, students will know:
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water to store
the energy of water in plants. It creates glucose and
releases oxygen as a waste product.
 Model the processes of Photosynthesis and Cellular
Respiration
Photosynthesis gets its energy from the sun and occurs in
the chloroplast of plants.
Cellular respiration is the opposite of Photosynthesis. It
releases the energy stored in glucose by combining it with
oxygen to give off energy and releases carbon dioxide
and water as waste products. This occurs in the
mitochondria.
These two cycles are a system that helps keep many
organisms on Earth alive.
 Explain that the energy to power photosynthesis
comes from the sun.
 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence
for the role of photosynthesis in cycling matter and
flow of energy in organisms.
 Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged
through chemical reactions forming new molecules
that support growth and/or release energy as this
matter moves through an organism.
Assessment
(What is acceptable evidence to show desired results (rubrics, exam, etc.)? Attach Copy
During the Smart Notebook lesson designed to introduce concepts, students will be continually questioned on these
concepts using a combination of class work/homework questions and the SMART Response system. Classwork and
Homework questions will be discussed as a class and misconceptions will be addressed by the teacher prior to the
formal evaluations listed below.
Quiz 1: Photosynthesis
Lab 1: Investigating Photosynthesis Inquiry Lab
Lab 2: Set Sail for the Island of Photosynthesis
Activity 1: Cellular Respiration Molecular Model Activity
Project 1: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Project
Quiz 2: Cellular Respiration
Unit Test
(What is the sequence of activities, learning experiences, etc, that will lead to desired results (the plan)?
Topic
Classwork
Homework
1-2
Photosynthesis
Slides 2-10;
Lab 1: Investigating
Photosynthesis Inquiry Lab
Lab Questions
3
Photosynthesis
Slides 11-23;
Classwork 1-6
Homework 7-13
Day
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7th Grade PSI
Matter and Energy in Everyday Life
Photosynthesis
Slides 24-25;
Photosynthesis Game
N/A
5
Photosynthesis
Slides 26-27;
Lab 2: Set Sail for the
Island of Photosynthesis
(part 1)
Complete Part 1 of Lab 2
and plan for diorama- bring
in any necessary supplies
6
Photosynthesis
Lab 2: Set Sail for the
Island of Photosynthesis
(part 2)
Complete diorama &
prepare for presentation
7
Photosynthesis
Diorama Presentations
Complete Reflection Sheet
in Lab 2
8
Photosynthesis;
Cellular Respiration
Quiz 1;
Slides 28-34
N/A
4
Slide 35;
Activity 1: Cellular
Respiration Molecular
Model Activity
Slides 36-39;
Classwork 14-19;
Assign Project:
Photosynthesis and
Cellular Respiration Project
9
Cellular Respiration
Finish Activity Questions
10
Cellular Respiration
11
Energy and Matter Flow
Slides 40-44;
Work on Project
Homework 20-24;
Work on Project
12
Energy and Matter Flow
Work on Project
Study for quiz
13
Cellular Respiration
Quiz 2;
Prepare for presentations
Prepare for presentations
14
Energy and Matter Flow in
Photosynthesis and
Cellular Respiration
Project Presentations;
Study Guide
Study for test
15
Unit Test
Unit Test
Work on Project
**HW Problems are currently not scaffolded from least to most difficult, but are instead listed in order of
topic. Teacher should pay special attention at the end of each class period when assigning HW so that
only problems related to the topic that was taught are being assigned.
***Pacing guides are based on 40minute periods, you may need to adapt based on your school’s
schedule.
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7th Grade PSI
Matter and Energy in Everyday Life